There may not be enough time available for either side to win but there were enough points of interest and enough quality cricketers on the field to keep a good crowd engaged. It was a relief merely to spot two umpires entering the arena in white coats and optimistic Panama hats. This was akin to the dove returning to the Ark with a freshly plucked olive leaf in its beak. Here was evidence that the rains had abated; some sort of normality had returned, although not for Stuart Broad.

He had to return to Nottinghamshire, where according to Twitter (so I'm told) he spent the afternoon channel hopping between rugby, Formula One – and the cricket. He was fit enough to play but the England hierarchy, who have spent so much time justifying the principle of rotation in the past few days, took the logical course and decided to give him a rest along with Jimmy Anderson. However, unlike his fast-bowling partner, Broad kept any reservations about that decision to himself.

So while England's two senior pacemen put their feet up, here was scope to come to some conclusions about who should be the third fast bowler against South Africa later in the summer. Tim Bresnan is the man in possession and his proud record of only playing in England victories (after 13 Tests) is now under threat. Alongside him were Steven Finn and Graham Onions.

Yet despite a full day's play when West Indies were sent into bat, there were no startling revelations. It was common knowledge before the start that England were blessed with strength in depth in the pace department. This was confirmed by satisfactory performances from the chosen trio. But none outshone the other on a fine surface and the first prepared for Test cricket by the groundsman, Gary Barwell. It was unlikely that Broad and Anderson were snorting at the television screen because the ball was jagging around so devilishly.

Nor would they have relished bowling at Marlon Samuels, who carried on where he left off at Trent Bridge until Bresnan had him lbw for 76. Samuels is easily the highest run scorer in the series and he is starting to annoy whoever is chosen to bowl for England. He was superb, batting once again with restrained nonchalance. He was watchful against the pace trio and dealt with Graeme Swann as effortlessly as Mahela Jayawardene did in the winter.

The track was true but lively at the start and it required luck, judgment and rare English lapses in the field for West Indies to get to lunch on 85 for one. The fielding culprit was Ian Bell at third slip (Anderson's slot). He dropped a straightforward chance when Adrian Barath was on four to Onions' exasperation and after the interval – and to be even-handed as well as butter-fingered – he spilled an easier chance off Finn.

So Barath and Kieran Powell managed 49 between them before Bresnan intervened. Powell edged to second slip where Swann contrived to catch the ball between his thumb and forefinger. Assad Fudadin, one of four changes to West Indies – probably not due to rotation – hung in pluckily (Narsingh Deonarine, Sunil Narine and Tino Best were also selected while Shivnarine Chanderpaul was unfit to play). The trio of pacemen was on the attack; the bat was beaten regularly and the odd half-volley dispatched in a lively session.

After the break England reverted to their Ashes strategy of containment and they gained their reward. The slip cordon was less populated, the bowlers' line was a little more conservative and the runs dried up. Soon Barath was lbw, prodding half-forward to Onions; Darren Bravo, bogged down, gifted a return catch to the agile Finn, who propelled a brilliant first-ball yorker to Samuels, which was defended with equal brilliance.

Eventually, Bresnan briefly deserted the attritional strategy and he must have wondered why he had not done so earlier. He decided to bounce Fudadin and the debutant was soon unsettled – as debutants often are, whether from Yorkshire or Guyana. The third short ball, which was perfectly directed, hit the glove of Fudadin and ballooned to third slip, where not even Bell could fail to take the catch.

When Deonarine was deftly taken at first slip by Andrew Strauss off Onions it was 152 for five and West Indies were creaking. Now Samuels, expending as little energy as possible, counterattacked. There was a sumptuous cover drive off Bresnan and several more against Swann, power aligned with placement. Onions, in particular, started to embark on conversations with Samuels but Swann might have instructed his colleague to shut up. It seems that Samuels is spurred on rather than distracted by verbal interventions from the opposition. When in Birmingham it may be better to send Samuels to Coventry.

Having reached his half-century Samuels decided to point his bat, not only in the direction of the dressing room in time-honoured fashion, but also towards Onions. He has been an adornment to the series. His Test average after 40 matches, only 33 but rising fast, is not a reliable testament of his talent. However, just before the advent of the new ball Bresnan found a way through his defences and, despite the inevitable review, Samuels was lbw.

With the new ball available England scented a quick end to the innings but it never came about. Maybe the three pacemen were too eager to impress and the fielding was still fallible. Strauss at slip dropped Darren Sammy off Finn, though he would make amends soon after. Denesh Ramdin attacked vigorously, hitting Bresnan for four boundaries in the space of eight balls.

Narine, a dapper left-handed batsman, scored his first Test runs before he was bowled off the inside edge by Onions. It should be more fun watching the mystery man bowl but after two days marooned in the West Midlands everyone is just grateful for any entertainment